Philippines: Journalist gunned down

Volunteer reporter Leodoro Diaz died on the spot from multiple gunshot wounds sustained in the attack in a Sultan Kudarat town. The killing happened in broad daylight amid martial law, which prohibits non-military and police personnel from carrying guns outside the house. File

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SULTAN KUDARAT — Two men on a motorcycle shot dead early Monday in President Quirino town a volunteer radio reporter and columnist of a local weekly newspaper.

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Senior Supt. Raul Supiter, director of the Sultan Kudarat provincial police, said Leodoro Diaz died on the spot from multiple gunshot wounds sustained in the attack.

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Diaz was a volunteer reporter of a broadcast outfit in Cotabato City, the station dxMY of the Radio Mindanao Network.

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He was also a columnist of the Sapol tabloid published weekly in General Santos City, about three hours away via overland travel from President Quirino, his hometown.

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Diaz was on his way to Tacurong City from his home in Barangay Katiku, President Quirino when two bikers trailing behind overtook, block his path and shot him with pistols, killing him on the spot.

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Benjie Caballero, a broadcast journalist based in Tacurong City, said Diaz was a hard-hitting tabloid columnist.

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“We are urging the police to investigate on his murder in broad daylight at a time when Mindanao is under martial law that prohibits non-military and police personnel from carrying guns outside of houses,” Caballero, a long time friend of Diaz, told The STAR.

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Diaz was the third journalist killed in Sultan Kudarat province in about 15 years.

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Marlene Esperat, also a columnist of a local newspaper, and radio reporter Amy Corpuz were also killed by hired killers.

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Supiter said personnel of the President Quirino municipal police are still trying to determine the identities of the two men behind the murder of Diaz and their real motive for the attack.

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“Let’s give them enough time to identify the perpetrators of this crime for them to be prosecuted to the fullest extent of law,” Supiter said.